Motor-vehicle.



E. P. GOWLES. MOTOR VEHICLE. AIVPLIOATION FILED AUG. 9, 1912.

1,,128A92, Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

745277265595 [mu /Mar 'fmw 0: m

E. P 0 0 W LEs.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

' APPLICATION FILED AUG.9, 1912.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. P. GOWLES.

- MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9, 1m.

Llwfiw, Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

- P. GOWLES. MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG.9,1912.

. L128A9Q, Patented Jan.5,1915.

6 SHEETSSH.EET 4 E. P. GOWLBS.

MOTOR VEHICLE,

APPLICATION FILED AUG.9.1912.

Patented Jan. 5, 191 5.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5'.

E. P. COWLES.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.9.1S1l2,

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

GSHEETW-SHEBT 6.

w 1R wxn 1P. COW33E$, 0E EFARTA, MIGHIGA N, assrouon. I31 rrnsn'nassrcnninnrs. so

ZAGHARD MOTQB. CAR COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A GOTEILEURATXQR' ElliMICHIGAN.

v I tlpeciflcstlon oi Letters l etcnt.

Patented Jan. illicit".

origins! application filed -F3cpcemher 6, 19111, Serial no. 7%,497.Divided enlilithis application filed. August 9, 191%. Eeriel HO.716,297-

o all whom it'magi concern Be it known that l Eowsno'l. Cownns, a

citicen'of the United. States, and resident of- Spsrta, in the county ofKent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulimprovements in lilotoi velricles, of which the following is aspecification.

This application is a division of my prior application, Serial No.74,497, filed September 6, 1901. A

My present invention relates to improvements in motor vehicles andparticularly to the running gear and steering mechanism of suchvehicles.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a steering mechanismof high precision, adapted to Work with extreme sensitlreness andautomatically locking when the vehicle isrunning in proximity to astraightline. I

With this and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction and arrangement of parts described in the followingspecification reference .hein had to 2 the accompanying drawings inwhich,

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly broken away of a motor vehicle embodyingmy invention; Fig. 2 is a View of the frontcnd of said. veh cle, partlybroken away; Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the bearing for thesteering shaft; Fig. 3 is a'horizontal section of a steering axle andhub and the steering mechanism which may be used instead of the. formsspecifically claimed in my api)? ation No. 74,497. Fig. i is aside elevai of the some, parts losing shown in secand a part broken away; Fig. isan on i elevation, and 6 is :1 side elevation of wheel spindle shown inFig. 3. Fig. 'l' is a horizontal section through the central portion ofthe forward axle, showing the cams for operating the rods which areconnected with the steering wheels; Fig. 8 is a similar view showing adifferent arrangement of steering cams-Fig, 9 is a section on the line ae: of Fig. 7; Fig. '10 is a. section on the line c-o of Fig. 8; Fig. 1118% vertical soc:

tional view through a portion ofthe. steering ig.-ll2 is a crosssection'on line a-ca Fm. 13 1s s View shown'ig a por w u n I steeringlever in side View anal longitudinal section, illustrating the devicesfor shortening and lengthening the lcver',

kinds of motor vehicles and to. all kinds of motors, it is speciallyadapted to that form of driving gear shown and described in my PatentNo. 65 1, 716 dated July 31., 1.900, and the driving gear outlined inthe accompany ing drawings is of that form.

One essential feature of an eliicient motor vehicle steering mechanismis that there shall be no lost motion between the parts thereof and thatthe slightest Increment of the steerii'ig lever shall produce 5. corresponding movenzent of the steering wheels. For this reason it isnecessary that the fulcrums of the various levers hove rigid metalconnections and that the joints he kept free from dust to avoid wear. Togain this end- I place practically all of the'stcering mechanism insidethe front axle 10 which is a single tube of large diameter. This alsohas the efiect ofgiving the -front axle a more symmetrical appearance asthe rods, levers, etc, usually exposed are concealed.

l have shown in F i g. 3 one form of mechanism for actuating thesteering wheels, this mechanism. comprising 2. curved lever 3i ata Theinner side 6 of each fork arm is curved of axle are list and iciicallya.

to conform. to the curvature sleeve, while the outer sides li parallel,thus giving them channel iron cross section. By giving the fork arms achannel iron section, and making them integral with the axle, base andtrunnions, it is possible to obtain suilicient strength and stillnesswithin a small space and bring the arms near enough together to pass inbetween the hub cylinders to the plane of the wheel. I

The operating devices of the steering mechanism (see Figs. 7 and 9)include two.

cooperating parts, a double cam 37 operated bythe steering lever, and aswinging cam plate 33, said parts being pivotally mounted at 39, 10,respectively, between the upper and lower halves of a dust-proof casing36 which is firmly clamped to the axle tube 10, preferably at its centerand extends forward and rearward therefrom. The axle tube i is providedwith suitable slots 42 to permit of the passage of the parts 37, 38.

Double 'cam 37 is substantially of the form of a T, the central arm ofwhich is connected to the ball 39 forming the pivotal mounting of saidcam, and has suitable free plates at its end,'between which are mountedrollers 44, 44. This construction is for the purpose of allowing thearms of,cam plate 38 to pass through as said plate swings on its pivot10, and to give the pivot 39 a bearing within the casing 36. Theserollers i l, 44 extend through slots or forks 46, 46 formed in cam plate38. The outer arms of the cam plates 38 are pivotally connected at 47,'li to the rods 3%, 3l, which extend to the ends of the axle and areconnected to the bent lcvcrs 31 of the steering-knuckles as hereinbeforedescribed. Rollers 44, ll, are preferably placed so that linesconnecting their centers with the center or axis of pi\ot 39 would forma little more than aright angle with a line connecting the centers ofsaid rollers and the axis of pivot 10. In other words the central linesof slots 46, 46' are tangent to a circle described by the centers ofrollers ll, -'l=l-" in moving about pivot 39. It will be seen thatrollers ll,

44 act alternately on cam plate 38. That is, when one roller moves intoengagement with its respective slot in the cam plate 38 the other ofsaid rollers moves out of on gagcmcnt with said plate. It is alsoobvious that from the central position of the parts 37, 38, which arethe positions occupied by said parts during movement of the vehicle in astraight line, the initial movement of cam plate 38 with respect to themovement ol double cam 37 either way is very slow owing to thetangential direction of slots 16, in with respect to circle described byrollers M, M. -'l his movement can be varied from zero to any degree, byplacing the centers of rollers 44, a l, more or less in advance oftangential position, also by varying direction of slots t6, ll'i or oymal ing them curved instead of straight. It is alsoobvious that themovement of cum plate 38, from its central position is constantlyaccelerated until either roller is in line with axes of pivots 39 and 40 which positions answer to the extreme right and left turn of steeringwheels. This acceleration is due partly to the rollers H, 44' actingmore at right angles to the direction of slots 46, 4-6, and partly tothe shortening of 'adius in cam plate 38, as the rollers advance fromcentral position.

Owing to the relation of parts 37, 38 above described it will be seenthat cam plate 38 has little or no power to move the cam 37 when theparts are in their normal positions and this inability is augmented andincreased by the large diameter of pivot 39, so that rollers ll, (l lmust advance some distance in slots 46, 46', before cum plate 38 canovercome the friction of said pivot. In operating the steering devicepower applied to the steering lever has such a great leverage on thepivot 39 that the friction thereof does not perceptibly impede theoperation. When, however, power is applied through the rods 34., 3t andcam plate 38, to reverse their movement, the friction of pivot 39 hassuch a great leverage on the power that it is absorbed and neutralized,and as the powe applied to rods 3i, 3% is increased the .friction onpivot 39 is l'n'oportionately increased, because such power acts todirectly force the pivot 39 against its seat, making a' positive deadlock, when operating in said central position. It is obvious thereforethat any force acting on cam plate 38 through rods 3t, 3t and steeringknuckles, such as the steering wheels striking obstructions, ruts, etc.,will have no elleet to turn double cam 37 and therefore the steeringmechanism is practically :nitomatically locked when the vehicle ismoving in approximately a straight line. When turning curves and thelike, the drivers attention is fixed,'and the grip on steering leverfirm, and locking further than this is not desired.

In Figs. 8 and 10 l have illustrated a slightly modified form of camplate. Referring to these figures it will be seen that the plate 38 towhich the rods 34,31! are connected, is provided with suitable rollers38, 38", which ride against the inner surface of the axle 10 as saidplate is moved longitudinally thereof. In this construction the slots46, 46", extend at right angles tothe line of movement of the plate 38'and rods 3t, 34. I prefer, however, the form first described because thedifferentiation to cause the steering wheels to always turn with theirrevolving planes tangential t0 concentric circles is accomplished whollyor in part by the relative position of the pivotal attachment of rods34, 3t to cam plate only one mo pins or 1;

mew-e2.

clate we ln'ierel sway of the body of the veliiele into which the upperend of the shaft extends. and the vei'lical twisting of front axleconsequent "from lemming over uneven ground, the shzz'lt 49 has theabove lescribeifi bail aml socket joini; 89 with careq fi olwliiclipermits Elie shaft. to swing The cross plates of ihe cam 37 .1 which therollers 44:, 4. are mountffllililzi longer slain to allow calm plate 38to pass icluoflgl' which permits said dam in. molt vertically Wllil'lball 39, and shaft sliding through slots 46,;

ll), roilez's 4%, H 4.6. Double cam 37, however. can have a pemmn'entbearing; in casing 36, and. she-fl. 4.? Be flexibly jointed to it. Anoblong box 50. extending up from casing and having zi hearing in f 7 49turns, sliding leeialiy in ilie upper end. PIEVQZilT-S shaft 12.9

'1" shal lme a bearing in the body, it also pre'vents axle 1.0 fromturning, or maintains it in an upright posiiion. The casing can,however, have :1 rear extension connected lo a cross-hair between thereaches to prevent the axles Iii), from burning and Sih'lll coiisjiz'ucion tl o oblong box. 50, flail be d spensed with. To accommodate ilievertical play of b05131 Willi respect to l0. emit isnmde extens ble. onenow l on 5 being imbizim. the mm 52 sliding min. o1" telescoping withit, said parts being; pre ented from rotating with respect to eachoiloei. by slots and. ems or feathers.

{flee Figs. Iii and-l2.) The veitieel play of the body ooiosent eiicl ificl ere were 11o. b le elm "fie,

, arm some much custom in oonsinfi? they would quickly wee.

- lost motion." To overcome .his 'iliffiouliy I foem "eeilii eiiizirelyaround the member52 like "'grinioii Wire ami on the inside of tube 53.lovm a. ooiiesoomtling number of 'zeeifili to engage those of theiiiemlier 52. Said ieeili being" of coneidovaiylo ien th. The; is,

in. the embodiment of mi; invention herein iliistmtorl the IflGiflilFifl lies; 16 teeth each ;-.-ei gliiiliincli deep. zind flit. men'ilier51 has iii inches long. so ii'iGlQ are always J' l a mime inches of"Wearing nefifes awieiel space.

Will: the fomi shown in Figs. {5 and 9 and said rollers are "fromswinging and lies}; with poof; iio axle 1.0 and as the upper end of?This makes the siteering shaft, as regarcls rotation, practically asolial shaft, and in regard to Wear practically indestructible. A lightmetal tube 53 attached to the upper end of the mambo? has a. closesliding lit on member 51. and excludes (lust.

'1 he upper end of the shaft 49 has a ball and socket connection {-liig.2) with the foot' plate 56 of the body of the vehicle. As hereinbeforestated, 1 preferably place this shaft and easing 36 at a point midway ofthe length of the axle in older to give a more symmetrical appearance,but it is' generally preferred to have the steering 1e ver 57 placecl tothe riqht of the center. I preferably make coimections for this oii'sei;by means of two parallel links 58, 38, Figs.

:1 and 2; connecting lilo diametrically opposite owns 59. 59 511$ 60,60, respectively on.

nection removes all thrust from' the'bear ings of the lever 5? and shaft4-9 in the ve hiole body and praeizieally doubles the length of'arme 59,60 largely eliminating wear and lost motion.

As heroinbefore slated my presentinvem 'tion is specially adapted foruse in connection with thedz'iving mechanism shown in. my Patent No.%,716, (latedwluly 31, 1900. Referring to that patent it will be seenthat the steering lever, beeidee its function oi turning the from; chineby 0. lateral swing; in a horizontal plane. like lhe tiller of a boat,serves also to control we speed of, etopyor reverse the motor, em, by aloaek and. forward swing 1n 2. vettiea i-plane. This oiible function.

is aeeomplielied in ilie present instance by providing'ia. mounting ofeeuliay'oonstruc tum for filie steering lever. This lever 57, as shownniFigs. 2, 2 and 20, 1e. oui'na1ed in two bearings 52, 62 on oppositesides of a 13mg 63 wine-ideas "ewe diametrically opposite lxmmioiie'64:. the axes of which extend in; right migles izo the center line ofthe bearings 62, 62. These tYHHIllOllS have bearings in a piece 55firmly SBCLXlKl to the Wheels to guide the new,

I accomplish this by "making arms iteering lever 57 is free to swingback and forward in a vertical plane, while its rotary motion iscommunicated to arms 60, G0 and the two functions do not interfere witheach other.

1t is desirable to have the arm by which the movements of the steeringlever are controlled extensible and especially so in this case where ithas considerable motion to and from the operator. Referring particularlyto Figs. 4, 13, 14 and 15, it will be seen that I accomplish this end byconstructing the arm in two parts, part 72 being a tube which isconnected to the lever 57 and having, preferably, a series of ring teeth73 on its inner surface like rack teeth. For convenience in constructionthese teeth 73 may be spirally formed as shown. Said teeth are cut awayat 74;, forming one or more slots or grooves. Theotber part 75 of thesteering arm has corresponding threads 76 formed about its inner end,which extends into said tubular member 72. The threaded end-of the part75 is so grooved that the rcn'iaining portions of the thread formlongitudinally-extending ribs"which can, when properly adjusted, slidefreely in the slots 74, and when the parts 72', 75 are adjusted to bringthe ribs 76 inalincment with. the slots 74, the part 75 slides ortelescopes in and out of part 72, and when turned in either directionsaid parts are locked together at any longitudinal adjustment. The part75 of the steering arm may be hollow and within a chamber formed at theinner end thereof is arranged a plug 77 having feathers fitting into theslots'7l, and permitting it to slide freely longitudinally of the part72 but preventing rotation of said plug in the tube 7'2. The plug isrotatably mounted in the part and coiled spring 78 connects the two andacts to turn part 75 back to its normal position of engagement with thetubular part 72 when released after being unlocked by rotatin'g itinsaid part 72. That is, when the operators hand is removed from handle 79it, through the part 75, is locked to part 72 automatically. PreferablyI make handle 79 in the form of a short cylinderextending at rightangles to the part 75 of the steering arm. The end of 75 is flattenedand attached to handle 79 at its center, the fiattened portion 80passing between the first and second or second and third fingers whengrasping the handle. This makes a very light, and neat appearing handleand one on which a firm and secure grip of the hand can be had.Preferably I arrange it so that its normal position is horizontal and byturning it into perpemlicular position it discngages the parts 75. 72.It will be observed that this steering arm has the important advantagethat it can be shortened or lengthened without disturbing the grip andprecision at very high speed At the same time the general or completemovement- 18 very prompt and quick. 2nd. Aut0inat1-' cally locking forall maneuvering required in straight forward running, making itsa'fe toI'GII1()\ e the hand from the steering arm-at such times.

'l he casing 36 of the steering mechanism serves as a heavyreinforcement for the cen- V ter of the front axle, the semi-hubs100,100 at each end thereof firmly clampingfthe tube 10 with short tube95. In this case, as tube 10 passes through unbroken, the end of tubeonly is threaded withi'nthe hubs 100, as shown at 96", rig. 7. Thereinforcement 9:) is extended alon the axle and nut 98 clamps the endfirmly t iereto. The outer ends of axle 10 are threaded into the sockets11 at 96?", Fig. 7, and within each of said sockets are arrangedreinforcing rings or tubes 99.

The body frame consists preferably of two U-shaped pieces of tubing 112,with their straight ends joined together as at 113, forming a framepreferably with semi-circular ends and straight sides. On this frame anyform of a vehicle body can be laced, and such body can be made very ligit and of any material or any fancied design, as the rigidity of theframe relieves it of all strain.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a tubular axle, steeringwheels mounted at the ends of the axl.. and means fo "actuating saidsteering wheels a rrangcd within the tubular axle.

2. In a motor vehicle. the combination of a tubular axle, steeringwheels mounted at the ends of the axle. levers fulcrumed on the axlenear the ends thereof and connected to the steering wheels, and meansarranged within theaxle for actuating said levers.

3; In a motor vehicle, the combination of a tubular axle. steeringwheels mounted at the ends of the axle, levers fulcrumed at one side ofthe axle, near the ends thereof. and each having an arm extending intothe intezrios thereof, connections between the steering Wheels and saidlevers, rods arranged within the axle and connected. to the said leverarms therein, and means tor reciprocating said rods.

in a. motor vehicle, the combination of a. tubular axle, steeting.wheels supported therefrom at points beyond the ends of the axle, curvedlever :tulcrumed at one side of the axle and having its free end.extending into the end of the axle, linlzs connecting said, lever with.the steering Wheel, and a reciprocating rod for actuating said leverarranged Within and extending longitudinally oi the flXlQ.

5. in motor vehicle, the combination of a tubular sxle, steering" wheelssupported at. the ends of the axle, rods arranged Within the axle andconnected to said steering wheels, actuating shaft, and mutuallyengaging devices connected to said shaft and to said rods Within theaisle, said devices acting to automatically loci: the wheels when thevehicle is moving in substantially a stinight line, independently ofpower, applied to the nctnatii'ie shaft.

6. in. a. motor vehicle. the combination of on axle. steering wheelssupported at the ends ot'tl'ie axle. a plate pivotally mounted at themiddle of the axle and provided with two lLYFYIaSV Qi'FQ slots,connections between said plate and the steering wheels, an actuatingshaft adapted to be adiusted about an axis extending" nm'allel to theaxis of the ivot of slotted plate. and arms consaid shaft and extendinginto the plate, whereby by moving the mg Wheels can be adjusted to whensaid piste and arms are e noi'mal. *nidv n v nositions. occunied whenvehicle is moving in substantially o sti'z'zie'ht line. said wheels willbe autonistlcslly locked in 'i'zhe position they then occupy.

the combination of no; arranged at the mid no with the interior of ring:Wlicc' suppo ted at the late nivotalljv mounted "ill l1 two bitun ,ulrumed on event and connect ends connecting 1 plots within the one. on auniting shalt mounted 'tnlile bean-inn; in cosii'ag, and l to beconti'olled from beds or vehicle. and arms connected to said shaft andeach adapted to engage one of bi Fun l MTOFJ oi said pivoted nlate toadjust tine Yilicels Ml desired.

motor vehicle,

3 wheels mounted. at the ends a plate pivoteily monntetl at or n o.motor vehicle the combination of near the iniddle of the axle, andhaving two slots formed therein, connections between said plate and thesteering wheels, an actu" ating shaft mounted to rotate about an axisparallel to that of the pivot of said slotted plate, and twoantitriction reliefs connected to said shaft and adapted to engage withthe slots in said plate, the central longitudinal lines of said slotsbeing redial to the pivot; of said plate and tangent. to the circle described by said anti't'l'iction rollers, whereby the initial movement ofsaid plate unrleir the influence of said shaft will be relatively slowand will be accelerated as said approach the pivot of said plate.

In a motor vehicle, the combination of an axle, steering wheelssupported ntthe ends of the axle, e wrist plate having: transverseslots, links coimecting said plate with. the steering Wheels, and asteering shaft having can). surfecesedapted to engage with said slots.

10. In a motor vehicle, the combination of an axle, steering-Wheelssupported at'tlie end of. the axle, a pivotally n'iounterl "wrist platebetween the wheels, said plate having; two converging slots, linksconnecting said plate with the steering Wheels, and a steel ing shafthaving com surfaces adapted engage with said slots.

11. In a motor vehicle. the combination of the steering wheels, a platehaving a pair of cam-slots, links connecting said plate with thesteering Wheels, and a steering); shaft having a pair 0t cam-surfacesadapted to engage with said slots. 1

12. in a motor vehicle. the coinbinatioi' the steering wheels, :1. platebovine. ti of cam-slots. llllliS connecting said. with the Wheels, a,frictioually encumbered steering shaft, and a pain otcnn'i-snriiiccsconnected with said shaft and adapted to engage with said slots. 7

1 Ina motor vehicle. the combina ion of the steering wheels. :1 platebovine" s l oi com-slots, links connecting said with the wheels. ashaft. havinit'nn enlartr trir'tionally held bearing: zi-(liacent tossiri plate. and a pan oi cam'suriaces connect '2 with said shaft andadapted to engsg said slots.

14-. in a steering" gear. e steering post, s double crant on the lowerend thcrcoi', o. plate pivoted cccentr'icslly of the steering post.means carried bv the double crank for tlliiiflfitlle pivoted nlste whenthe steering; post is turned. steering knuckles. and a connection timethe steering knuckles to the pivoted plate. 4

15. in a motor i'eliicle. the combination of s tubule? aisle, :1horizontally movable tenniziion at the otdhe axle. e stecvinn; "o'litgelupon, snid trunnion. a segmental melt at the base of stud trumnon, e.curved level" fulcrnmed at one side of the axle, and hav-- ing its freeend extending into the end of the axle, teeth on said lever engagingsaid rack; and a reciprocative rod for actuating 5 said lever arrangedwithin and extending longitudinally of the axle.

